Christmas is coming early for trout anglers in 13 western North Carolina counties. Starting Dec. 4 through Dec. 21 hatchery staff with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will be stocking extra trout from the hatcheries to provide additional angling opportunities.

Forsyth County - CG HILL LAKE – 12/6 and VILLAGE POINT LAKE - December 6, 2017

Gaston County - GASTON COUNTY FARM LAKE – December 14, 2017 and GEORGE POSTON PARK POND – December 14, 2017

Jackson County - CASHIERS PARK POND – December 7, 2017

Mecklenburg County - MCAPLINE POND – December 21, 2017

Polk County - LAUGHTER POND – December 11, 2017

Surry County - TUMBLING ROCK RESERVOIR – December 19, 2017

Transylvania County - LAKE IMAGING – December 21, 2017

Yadkin County - YADKIN COUNTY PARK POND – December 19, 2017

In addition to these supplemental trout stockings, the Wildlife Commission stocks more than 930,000 catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout into mountain streams and reservoirs annually to provide trout fishing opportunities for the thousands of trout anglers who fish North Carolina’s public waters. These opportunities have substantial economic benefits on North Carolina’s economy, according to a 2015 study conducted by Responsive Management and Southwick Associates.

Nearly 149,000 trout anglers fished approximately 1.6 million days in 2014, and the effects these trout anglers had on North Carolina’s economy totaled an estimated $383 million, according to the study, “Mountain Trout Fishing: Economic Impacts on and Contributions to North Carolina’s Economy.” This dollar amount represents anglers’ direct spending, such as purchases of fishing equipment, food and accommodations, as well as secondary spending by businesses associated with trout angling and their employees. The study also found that money spent on trout fishing in 2014 supported approximately 3,593 jobs. Download a summary of the Economic Impacts and Contributions of Mountain Trout Fishing to North Carolina’s Economy.